Lord
Russell- Johnston, members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, it
is an honour for me to address the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe. I should like to express my deep condolences
for the death of Mr Pierre Pflimlin, a former President of the Council
of Europe and former mayor of Strasbourg.

I should like to refer to two broad topics. The first is about
the situation in Southeastern Europe and how it relates to the Republic
of Macedonia. The second topic is my vision for Europe in the twenty-first
century and how we, as Europeans, can achieve it. In a world seemingly
always filled with bad news, I bring you good news today. I am pleased
to tell you that the situation in Southeastern Europe is improving,
despite the existing problems. That is largely due to your efforts,
for which we thank you.

In Albania, reforms are moving forward. Relations are constantly
improving at a bilateral level. Our government has concluded a number
of agreements with our friends there, which will prove beneficial
to both peoples. We have intensive and fruitful co-operation through
joint regional projects under the Stability Pact. To our south, co-operation
with our friends in Greece continues to improve in all areas of
mutual interest, especially with regard to new economic initiatives
that take place between our two states almost weekly. There is also excellent
co-operation with another Nato member country from our region, the
Republic of Turkey. My friend President Petar Stojanov from Bulgaria
recently visited my country. Our two countries have signed nine different
bilateral agreements covering a variety of issues. Those agreements
will enhance the positive environment for co-operation between the
two countries.

The Serbian regime in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is
the main obstacle to stability in the region. We must all redouble
our collective efforts to bring Yugoslavia into the family of European
nations, where its citizens want to be and where they belong.

In Montenegro, local elections were recently held, which verified
the reforms and the democratic path taken by President Djukanovic.
That country needs our support and encouragement. It deserves it,
and it is the right thing to do.

The position in Kosovo is improving despite the seriousness
of the situation. It is necessary to build a democratic and multi-ethnic
society, and to respect all human rights and freedoms, including
the rights of all ethnic groups. We are concerned about the violence
and the large number of inter-ethnic incidents, because tensions
may spread out into neighbouring countries. Therefore, we think
that Kfor should increase its presence and activities on the border
in order to prevent any possibility of a spill-over of the violence
into neighbouring countries, and to prevent organised crime and
extremism from spreading throughout the region.

How does all this relate to the Republic of Macedonia? Many
have called my country an island of stability, and at times that
has been true. The Republic of Macedonia is the only country in
the former Yugoslavia to have avoided war and bloodshed. However,
I do not want my country to be only an island of stability. I want
the Republic of Macedonia to be part of a peninsular of stability
in Southeastern Europe.

How can we build that peninsular of stability in Southeastern
Europe? There are some common ways of doing that to which most freedom-loving
states subscribe. In our own countries, good relations with our
neighbours, continued economic co-operation, improved political
co-operation and enhanced cultural and educational ties will all
lead to greater stability. All states and all peoples of the region
have a duty to involve themselves in such activities.

Outside our own country, the international community can support
the Republic of Macedonia and our neighbours in our efforts to create
greater stability and to become exporters of that stability. The
Stability Pact is an excellent basis for the development of neighbourly
co-operation, but a major effort is needed to give the Stability
Pact greater impact.

I cannot go on without mentioning in this context the importance
that the Republic of Macedonia places on the construction of corridor
No. 8. Its political and cultural importance will be even greater
than its economic importance and its importance for communication.
It will make communication among people from Albania, Macedonia,
Bulgaria and Turkey much easier, and they will get to know each
other better. That will eliminate many historical prejudices.

The Parliamentary Assembly and the Council of Ministers of
Europe, in the recommendation adopted last April, recognised the
merit of the Republic of Macedonia in sheltering refugees. It was
a great responsibility, but we undertook that task because it was
the right thing to do. The Republic of Macedonia deserves international support
and encouragement because it has more than two million people who
are part of Europe, who want to be part of Euro-Atlantic structures,
who love freedom and who embrace free market principles.

Political support from Strasbourg, especially the appeal for
economic assistance, has been welcomed. It is necessary and has
contributed towards greater stability. I want to say for the record
that we all recognise that the key to stability in the region is
economic prosperity. That will come through the economic assistance
offered to the Republic of Macedonia as well as economic development
through foreign direct investment. Therefore, I ask you to encourage
foreign direct investment flows to Macedonia. We will meet you in
this endeavour as we continue to reform our laws in order to make
this work.

The Republic of Macedonia is aware that the countries of the
region have an important responsibility in overcoming the difficulties,
and it is ready by itself and in co-operation with its neighbours,
as has been the case up to now, to pursue its activities so as to
ensure the conditions for prosperity in the region. We believe, and
expect that in doing so, we will have wide international support.
We particularly expect that any tendency to create ethnically pure
countries and to promote the concept of “greater states”, by any
side, will be fully discouraged, as unfortunately that remains the
major threat to peace in the region. Instead of changing the borders,
we should open them to the European spirit.

Internally, the Republic of Macedonia is continually working
to improve its own stability. One way to do that is through economic
prosperity, the rule of law and increased tolerance. My government
has undertaken serious economic and political reforms and important
laws have been adopted, especially on market economy development
and the acceleration of privatisation. At the same time, we are
working on education, social policy and local administration reforms.
Those are ongoing and painful, but necessary. The results of that
process are expected this year and we will need your continued support
to let our citizens know that we are on the right course.

In that context, it is a pleasure to inform you that the new
law on higher education, which was prepared in cooperation with
the OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities, Mr Max van der
Stoel, and his team of experts, will soon be presented to the parliament.
That law will make higher education in the Republic of Macedonia
compatible with the European standard and provide a legal framework
for the resolution of the issue of higher education for minorities.
High Commissioner van der Stoel’s proposal to create a private Albanian- language
higher education institute will be implemented as soon as the law
is adopted. Also, the elimination of that issue, which for years
has created tensions in relations between the majority and the minority,
will improve cohesion in Macedonian society. Adopting the law will
allow the Republic of Macedonia to ratify the European Charter for
Minority or Regional Languages.

Our strong determination to be members of Euro- Atlantic structures
such as the European Union and Nato shows our desire to be more
stable, more secure and more prosperous. I believe that the citizens
of the Republic of Macedonia have shown their willingness to do
their part to achieve that, and I know that Brussels recognises
that.

Let me share with you my vision for Europe in the twenty-first
century and the way in which we, as Europeans, can fulfil it. The
unity of our European continent at the very beginning of the twenty-first
century is a necessary precondition not only for the development
of the continent, but for a lasting peace. European values and fundamental
moral principles, to which we all subscribe, must be administered
and spread equally and justly. As a great civil rights leader once
said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Allow me briefly to touch on some issues that I feel are greatly
important to us all as we lead and guide Europe into the twenty-first
century. My vision for Europe is one in which the rule of law is
strengthened through the commitment of all European states to respect
for human rights. In that regard, the European Court of Human Rights
must remain a symbol of that commitment, continue to be independent
and be given the support that it needs.

Our children and our young people – our most important assets
– must be given support, encouragement and the tools that they need
to excel at leading Europe and, indeed, the world as they mature
and come into leadership roles in government, business, education
and society. At the same time, however, they must be given discipline
and guidance as we teach them values, morals, the importance of
hard work and the need to be creative. Our education systems must
be strengthened and our children and our young people must be given
an excellent education that is second to none. In that regard, I
hope that you will support my country’s initiative for the Euro-Balkan
youth centre at our own Lake Ohrid.

The Europe of the twenty-first century must be more than a
continent free of war. The Europe of the twenty- first century must
be more than a continent in which peace reigns. The Europe of the
twenty-first century must be a continent in which open borders rule
and people are free to travel from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. The
Europe of the twenty-first century must have a united economy. Some
have even suggested that the euro should be extended, even now,
to Southeastern Europe to foster stability. The Europe of the twenty-first century
must expand new business mechanisms such as e-commerce. The Europe
of the twenty-first century must be a pioneer in science, technology,
education and health. The Europe of the twenty-first century must be
creative and innovative in finding new solutions to the many problems
that will face all our people in this brave new world.

Allow me to conclude my address by again turning to the region
from which I come. I am deeply convinced that the process of stabilisation
of the region will be concluded when the countries of that region
are integrated in Nato and the European Union – when Europe becomes
a common home for us all. In that context, I stress that the stability
and the development of the region will not be complete without the
inclusion of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Therefore, all
democratic powers and efforts for democratisation in the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia should be encouraged.

We must all work towards the future enhancement and promotion
of fundamental values of democracy, the rule of law and human rights.
The full realisation of those objectives depends, above all, on
the complete commitment of each country to those values. The behaviour
of the Republic of Macedonia, even in most difficult times, has
shown that the realisation of the values promoted by the Council
of Europe remains our top priority. I believe that you will agree
with that remark. The fact that you have recommended the lifting
of the monitoring procedure for the Republic of Macedonia is the
best proof of that.

It has been a great pleasure to address you today. Thank you
for your time, your attention and your support.

Thank you
very much, Mr Trajkovski, for your forward-looking and enlightened
address. It is nearly 1.20 p.m., and we have nine questions. We
shall do our best to get through them, but we must – absolutely
must – stop at 1.30 p.m. I cannot ask the interpreters to go a minute
past that. It is very generous of them to have gone this far and
I assure you that that is very much appreciated.

The first pair of questions on the Stability Pact come from
Mr Jaskiemia and Mr Kirilov. Mr Jaskiernia?

Mr JASKIERNIA (Poland)

Mr Trajkovski,
you spoke interestingly about joint regional projects that you would like
to realise within the Stability Pact. Can you tell us a little more
about the goals of the project and what support you expect from
the Council of Europe and its member states to make it succeed?

Mr KIRILOV (Bulgaria)

Mr Trajkovski,
it was a pleasure to hear your speech. You assessed the Stability
Pact in general and mentioned corridor No. 8. What other priorities
is your country setting for Stability Pact infrastructure projects?
Within those priorities, where does the railway link between Bulgaria
and Macedonia stand?

Mr Trajkovski, President of "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"

As
far as the Stability Pact is concerned, I should like to return
to history. In the years after the defeat of the Axis powers, the American
Secretary of State, George Marshall, reported that the recovery
of Europe was less successful than expected and that disintegration
was evident. He said that the patient was sinking while the doctors
decided what to do. George Marshall warned that it was necessary
to rebuild the region and that speed and determination were vital
to recovery. I repeat that call: disintegration is evident in the
ethnic crisis in the region, and decisions must be taken as soon
as possible.

The Stability Pact aims to build a more prosperous, market-oriented
democratic country. Macedonia will contribute positively to building
prosperity and peace in the region. My vision of the implementation
of the Stability Pact is based on the principles of justice, prosperity
and tolerant co-existence.

We need the implementation of the Stability Pact. Macedonia
has supported the initiative from the beginning and is chairing
table No. 2. We have great expectations for the Stability Pact.
As I said earlier, realisation of corridor No. 8, along with economic
measures, is needed to create an environment in which our people
will have greater chances of communication. From the strategic and
political points of view, corridor No. 8 is also important. The
enhancement of our democracy depends on the economic prosperity
of the countries covered by the Stability Pact.

It is most important that we continue to improve electric
power connections with Bulgaria and Albania. We are co-operating
bilaterally and trilaterally with those two countries, and we can
achieve improvement. We expect financial support, and I ask members
of the Parliamentary Assembly to lobby their national assemblies
to support realisation of the Stability Pact.

THE PRESIDENT

Thank you,
Mr Trajkovski. Only four minutes remain, so the next three speakers
are the only three that we can call. There are three questions on
tolerance and minorities. I shall call Mr Begaj, Mr Telek and Mr Toshev.
Please be brief, Mr Begaj.

Mr BEGAJ (Albania)

Bearing in mind
the desire of our two neighbouring friendly countries to strengthen
co-operation and friendship within the framework of the Stability
Pact, and bearing in mind your interesting personality as the president
of a friendly Macedonia, voted for both by Macedonians and by the
majority of Albanians in your country, when is it planned to open
the university at Tetova, as promised by your Prime Minister less
than a year ago in this Hémicycle?

Mr TELEK (Turkey)

Throughout the
war and the crisis that raged in Southeastern Europe, the Republic
of Macedonia, under an able leadership and government, successfully
steered through instability and continued its determined democratic
and pluralistic development. As you are situated at the core of
a region most unfavourably affected by ethnic strife, and as your
country contains minorities of different ethnicities, including Turks,
Albanians, Serbs and Roma, how do you define the factors that preserved,
and even strengthened, the unity of the Republic, and do you think
that the Macedonian experience cap be an example of, or a case study for,
the promotion of peace, harmony and stability in the region?

Mr TOSHEV (Bulgaria)

Welcome to our
Assembly, Mr President.

I recall that during your election campaign, you made a statement
promoting ethnic tolerance, which is of great importance to your
country. You condemned isolated cases of xenophobia against Albanians
and those who identify themselves as Bulgarian by origin. Now that
you have been elected as president, what role do you plan to play
in the fight against xenophobia and in favour of ethnic tolerance?

THE PRESIDENT

Thank you,
Mr Toshev. Mr President, if you could finish by 1.30 p.m., you may
have a medal.

Mr Trajkovski, President of "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"

Do
I have three minutes?

THE PRESIDENT

It would
be good of you if we could finish by 1.30 p.m. Brevity is the soul
of wit.

Mr Trajkovski, President of "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"

Macedonia’s
experience during the past ten years provides a good example of
interethnic tolerance. Indeed, it is perhaps the most important
example of interethnic tolerance. The preservation and development
of minorities in our country is one of my priorities as president.
We provide a model for co-existence and the establishment of an
equilibrium between ethnic groups in our countries, as has been
proved over the past year. All ethnic minority groups have proved
loyal and co-operative during a most difficult time. Macedonia provides
a good example.

I do not wish to generalise too much in case it is felt that
there is xenophobia in my country. That word may have been misused
during our election campaign, but there is no reason to suggest
that there is xenophobia in Macedonia.

I was asked about the point in my speech at which I said that
we had proposed a draft law on education, which would incorporate
educational rights for minorities. That law is supported by the
High Commissioner for National Minorities, Mr Van der Stoel, who
has made a great contribution to shaping that law. It provides a
good example of how the problems of the past ten years have been
solved.

THE PRESIDENT

Thank you
very much, Mr Trajkovski. I am very sorry that the occasion had
to be foreshortened for the reasons that I mentioned. I also thank
all present for their patience. I again thank the interpreters very
much for staying, and for making our session possible.